Premier League 2017/18 relegation battle

It's looking like it could be a tasty battle between who goes down this season. No one team stands out as completely shite like the Sunderland's and Derby's of recent times. I would say any team up to Huddersfield and even Watford (if they don't get their act together soon) are in danger of being sucked in. The thing is, over recent weeks the teams who previously occupied the relegation places have picked up points (Palace and West Ham) meaning WBA and Newcastle have been dragged in with Stoke now perilously close.

Swansea appear the worst of the bunch on current form, but even they are capable of picking up points. Should be interesting, for sure.

Think I would have chosen Huddersfield and Brighton to go down at the start of the season. Huddersfield look like they could stay up but I haven't seen much to make me change my mind on Brighton. West Ham, Palace, West Brom and Stoke should be alright, although for Stoke it might depend on if they get their Hughes replacement right. Could easily see Bournemouth, Newcastle and Swansea going down. Reckon Swansea will replace Clement with Pulis but I've no idea how that will work out... I'll go with Huddersfield, Newcastle and Brighton.

Makes you realise just how poor the quality is in the second half of the table, right now nine teams are on course to finish with fewer than 40 points.

Think I would have chosen Huddersfield and Brighton to go down at the start of the season. Huddersfield look like they could stay up but I haven't seen much to make me change my mind on Brighton. West Ham, Palace, West Brom and Stoke should be alright, although for Stoke it might depend on if they get their Hughes replacement right. Could easily see Bournemouth, Newcastle and Swansea going down. Reckon Swansea will replace Clement with Pulis but I've no idea how that will work out... I'll go with Huddersfield, Newcastle and Brighton.

Makes you realise just how poor the quality is in the second half of the table, right now nine teams are on course to finish with fewer than 40 points.

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Yeah I think realistically the teams from Huddersfield down are all in contention for going down. I think with Swansea its pretty cut and dry, they are very poor. Couldn't pick between the other 9.

Five points between tenth and eighteenth after this round of fixtures. Completely mental and it should be an exciting relegation battle this season. Watford looked safe as houses a few weeks back and now they're five points off of Stoke who sit eighteenth. Expect plenty of managerial changes too.

It's looking like it could be a tasty battle between who goes down this season. No one team stands out as completely shite like the Sunderland's and Derby's of recent times. I would say any team up to Huddersfield and even Watford (if they don't get their act together soon) are in danger of being sucked in. The thing is, over recent weeks the teams who previously occupied the relegation places have picked up points (Palace and West Ham) meaning WBA and Newcastle have been dragged in with Stoke now perilously close.

Swansea appear the worst of the bunch on current form, but even they are capable of picking up points. Should be interesting, for sure.

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Nothing to choose in the quality (or lack of) between 13 first teams. Transfer difficulties just see half the clubs shoring up their squads to replace injured players.

I reckon it will down to the wire with three from five on the last weekend with three others (to make eight) under threat until the penultimate fixtures. Burnley might already have got it down to 12 teams with more points on board. Can't blame any of the clubs playing the reserves in the FA Cup as an extra injury could make the £ multi-million difference.

Prediction, I had Swansea not lasting to the last weekend and then pen two out of four: Brighton, Southampton, WBA, Stoke, with Huddersfield and Palace justa point away.

It could all go down to the strength of the squad and luck with injuries. Overall strength rather than current form. Dropping home points against rival teams can take a club down. WBA v Brighton is a "must win" for WBA. Newcastle v Swansea as well.

Everton are basically safe now, IMO. They'll probably do enough to even stay in the top half, so I'd disregard them (and in turn, everyone currently above them, obviously). While Burnley have hit a bit of a wall, there's no chance they don't pick up six more points in 14 games - they'll stay in the top 10 as well. I also just have a feeling that West Ham will do OK, they're on a good run of form right now, undefeated in their last five league games. Albeit with three draws, but I think one more little spell of decent results like this will see them safe. It's going to take quite a big slump for them to go down. Up until getting thumped by Arsenal, I thought Palace were going to go on a nice little run of form as well. I do expect they have enough to get a few more wins soon and be out of it though. Watford need a couple of results, if they can just find a win from somewhere I think they'll get a bit of confidence back and be fine. Bournemouth have hit some form, so I think they might get out of it as well, so it probably won't be out of 12~ teams like some suggest, it's more like seven IMO:

Huddersfield, Newcastle, Brighton, Stoke, Southampton, West Brom, and Swansea. At least one of the latter three, the current bottom three, will go down. I'd be absolutely amazed if all three escaped at this stage of the season. None of them seem able to find more than one win in six at the moment, and with 14 games to go, they have to improve upon that. Anyone who can manage to sneak 4-5 wins will probably end up staying up.

Everton are basically safe now, IMO. They'll probably do enough to even stay in the top half, so I'd disregard them (and in turn, everyone currently above them, obviously). While Burnley have hit a bit of a wall, there's no chance they don't pick up six more points in 14 games - they'll stay in the top 10 as well. I also just have a feeling that West Ham will do OK, they're on a good run of form right now, undefeated in their last five league games. Albeit with three draws, but I think one more little spell of decent results like this will see them safe. It's going to take quite a big slump for them to go down. Up until getting thumped by Arsenal, I thought Palace were going to go on a nice little run of form as well. I do expect they have enough to get a few more wins soon and be out of it though. Watford need a couple of results, if they can just find a win from somewhere I think they'll get a bit of confidence back and be fine. Bournemouth have hit some form, so I think they might get out of it as well, so it probably won't be out of 12~ teams like some suggest, it's more like seven IMO:

Huddersfield, Newcastle, Brighton, Stoke, Southampton, West Brom, and Swansea. At least one of the latter three, the current bottom three, will go down. I'd be absolutely amazed if all three escaped at this stage of the season. None of them seem able to find more than one win in six at the moment, and with 14 games to go, they have to improve upon that. Anyone who can manage to sneak 4-5 wins will probably end up staying up.

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Agree. Not looking at momentum but the fixture list. Brighton, Huddersfield and Southampton have the least enviable fixtures. Southampton vs Brighton (next) is a real 6 pointer already.

Looks like another miraculous recovery from Swansea. They are the new Wigan/Villa/Sunderland/Coventry/Southampton.

Looks like the season is really catching up with Huddersfield now. Brighton can't score either.

Genuinely no idea though. West Brom are improving game by game. Stoke have winnable games coming up and Southampton will surely get some wins soon with the quality in their team even if the manager isn't the best.

"I heard the first mutterings from my team-mates about how many points are going to be necessary for us to be safe from relegation.
What struck me was the change in words and mentality to those in the conversations we had exactly this time last year. Statements such as “we need to win eight of our last 12 games for promotion” have been replaced with lines such as: “We need 10 points from our last 11 games to stay up.” (extract)

Even Burnley who are sitting in 7th are only 10 points off being in the bottom 3 with 10 games still to play. Absolutely mental

West Brom and Stoke are sure to go beyond them who knows

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Fans and players are all looking at their fixtures and trying to work out how many points are needed and where they are going to get them. 38 or 39 points is seen as reasonable target. Position in the table and current form (momentum) does not count for so much. Looking for winnable and the nervous "must win" games against relegation rivals. One club will probably be too good to go down! The club finishing 17th won't get more than 42 pts.

Burnley (37) and Leicester (36) surely must be safe.

Watford (33) v WBA (20) will be the first fixture to look for as this looks like it could take Watford out of contention. It is a must win for WBA and just the type of thing that could happen. Might be worth a bet in an accumulator?

Southampton vs Stoke City

Swansea City vs West Ham United are "must win" home games but it is only each about a 50% chance. 30% draw and 20% away win.

Burnley 12:30 Everton (boring)

Leicester City vs AFC Bournemouth both look like draws as all four clubs gradually accumulate the points needed for safety.

Liverpool vs Newcastle and could Rafa mount a rearguard action for the TV. Good choice.
Brighton vs Arsenal might make a good TV game as well Arsenal may be short on confidence after Thursday. Spotlight on Wenger for the pundits. This looks like a banana skin to me. Even a workman-like win will not satisfy some Arsenal fans.

Tottenham v Huddersfield looks like a home banker.

Monday spotlight turns to Mourinho, because Palace are not really any better than the other sides down at the bottom.

I still hope that the final three will include Stoke and West Ham - they’re not bringing anything to the league at all - but with such a lot of candidates then I fear they’ll yet weasel-out of relegation. West Ham at least should be strong enough to survive, but hopefully today’s result will be start of something that will see them go down.